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Monday, March 31, 2014

Bud Knox relaxed on a park bench, basking in the April sunshine, his windbreaker zipped to his chin. A placid man with thinning brown hair, Bud looked nothing at all like a bank robber. ~ Opening to Duke City Split

Duke City Split by Max Austin

Alibi, 2014

Crime Fiction; 208 pgs

Last year my husband won the Windhammer Commendation Award for Short Gamebook Fiction for a game he wrote about a bank heist. He's really the reason my antenna went up when I saw mention of this book on tour. His story put me in the mood for similar type stories, and so I was excited when I first came across mention of Max Austin's Duke City Split.

Bud Knox is your average stay at home dad. He is raising two daughters, picks them up from school, takes them to their soccer practices, cooks for his wife, and has made a decent life for himself. Money can be tight, sure, but they make do. His wife, Linda, is in real estate, and Bud does some internet stock trading on the side. His real profession, however, is robbing banks. So, maybe he's not the average dad after all. Bud and his partner Mick Wyman have been robbing banks together for years and never been caught. Mick is the complete opposite of Bud. He's the tough guy, the strong arm, the one you look at and know he's probably got a criminal past.

When Mick is approached by a stranger about a lucrative bank job, Bud has some doubts. The two have been careful to avoid stealing money in their own backyard of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Things could get messy too fast. There's also the fact that they have only ever worked with each other. Who is this new guy and can they trust him?

What follows is an exciting and fun caper mystery about a bank robbery and just how hard it can be to hold onto the loot. Bud and Mick find themselves being chased by not only the good guys, but the bad ones as well.

It was easy to fall on the side of Bud and Mick, even when the dirty work needed to be done. I found myself hoping they'd come out on top and evade arrest, even knowing had it been real life I would feel completely different. There is a lot of action in the novel and some self-reflection, but if you are looking for strong character development, you won't find it here. Some of the characters are a bit cliche, but they added to the charm of the novel.

Can I just say how much I appreciate Bud's relationship with his wife? There was no drama about keeping secrets from each other--it was refreshing.

Duke City Split was as entertaining as it was suspenseful and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I gasped at times and could not help but laugh at others, even as dark as the novel was. Going in I had not idea this was just one book in three planned. For those adverse to series, don't dismiss this book outright. It reads as a stand alone; even the ending seemed pretty final. I am anxious to see where the author will go with the next in the series.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

The news of Anders Eckman's death came by way of Aerogram, a piece of bright blue airmail paper that served as both the stationery and, when folded over and sealed along the edges, the envelope. ~ Opening to State of Wonder.

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Harper Collins, 2011

Fiction; 353 pgs

There are many places I would like to travel and to experience. I would likely not last long in the middle of the rain forest on the border of the Amazon. So, instead, I content myself to visiting such places in books.

From the Publisher:

Award-winning "New York Times"-bestselling author Ann Patchett (Bel Canto, The Magician's Assistant) returns with a provocative novel of morality and miracles, science and sacrifice set in the Amazon rainforest--a gripping adventure story and a profound look at the difficult choices we make in the name of discovery and love.

In a narrative replete with poison arrows, devouring snakes, scientific miracles, and spiritual transformations, State of Wonder presents a world of stunning surprise and danger, rich in emotional resonance and moral complexity.

As Dr. Marina Singh embarks upon an uncertain odyssey into the insect-infested Amazon, she will be forced to surrender herself to the lush but forbidding world that awaits within the jungle. Charged with finding her former mentor Dr. Annick Swenson, a researcher who has disappeared while working on a valuable new drug, she will have to confront her own memories of tragedy and sacrifice as she journeys into the unforgiving heart of darkness. State of Wonder is a world unto itself, where unlikely beauty stands beside unimaginable loss beneath the rain forest's jeweled canopy.

Upon receiving word that her research partner has died of fever in a rain forest in Brazil, Marina sets off to find out more about his death at the request of her partner's wife, as well as to inquire about Dr. Swenson's drawn out work on a mysterious fertility drug at the behest of her employer and lover, Mr. Fox. Marina has mixed feelings about going, but go she does. She meets up with the eccentric Bovenders whose job it is to keep people away from Dr. Swenson, and Milton, the very resourceful chauffeur.

Dr. Annick Swenson, 73 years old, has spent decades studying the Lakashi people and conducting her research alongside a team of doctors, each with their own purpose. She is not an easy person to get close to, much less like. She is gruff in manner and spends more time pontificating than she does listening. As you can guess, I am not her biggest fan. Even so, Marina, has always admired Dr. Swenson and even longed to follow in her footsteps at one time, having once studied under her.

Marina is an interesting character. As smart and thoughtful as she appears, she sometimes makes rash decisions, not all of which make sense. The more I got to know her, the more I accepted this as her character flaw--and in some ways, I could understand her choices. There was also a distance about her, and yet it was obvious she really cares about people. Marina changed her medical focus early in her schooling after a tragic mishap that has haunted her ever since. Dr. Swenson and the Amazon force Marina to face her past. Her time in the rain forest is also a time of soul searching. She faces her fears and relies on strengths she did not know she had.

There are secrets and lies, and several mysteries solved. Difficult choices are made. You really get a feel for the native people and how fragile their lifestyle and environment are, given the encroaching civilization. Not to mention the questions raised in how they are treated by the researchers. There are also other ethical questions involving the way pharmaceutical companies set their priorities. State of Wonder is both a heartbreaking and inspiring novel.

When I first began reading State of Wonder it did not seem like a book I would love. Somewhere along the line, I realized how caught up in the story I was, how invested in the characters. I adore Easter, the deaf boy taken in my Annick Swenson and later by Marina. Ann Patchett had transported me to the rain forest just as she had Marina. I wanted to know more. I wanted to experience more.

I do wish the author had provided more insight into Marina than she did, but that very well could be my lack of wanting to let go of the character and the world Ann Patchett has created. When I finished the book, tears in my eyes, I so much wanted more. The ending was perfect in so many ways, but I didn't want the book to end. I wanted to spend more time with the Lakashi and with Marina.

I am grateful to Carrie of the Books and Movies and her "I've Always Meant to Read That Book!" Challenge for spurring me to read State of Wonder now. It has been on my shelf forever, and her challenge motivated me to pick it up and give it a try. This is my first Ann Patchett novel, but it definitely will not be my last.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

I love being able to open the windows this time of year and let in the fresh air, feeling a breeze throughout the house. Spring is definitely in the air. I have been driving home from work with my windows down, taking in the smell of the orange blossoms. One day a couple weeks ago my husband and I were commenting on how much we loved the smell of orange blossoms in the spring, when my mother suddenly cried out, "What's that smell? It smells like a sewer!" Evidently she isn't a fan.

The advent of spring makes me think of spring cleaning. My in-laws will soon be giving us their old couch. It's ancient, but a cover can easily make it look mostly new. I will just be glad to finally have something to sit on in our home library. We've only lived in our house three years this coming May. It is about time, don't you think?

This past weekend, as I browsed at the books sitting behind the toy fruit and canned goods (my bookshelves also act as shelves for Mouse's make believe grocery store), I wondered if it was time to cull out the books I don't want or need anymore. There's other spring cleaning I need to do as well--closets to go through, maybe the garage . . . Are you doing any spring cleaning this year?

On the reading front, I went from spending time in the rain forests in the Amazon, robbing a bank in Albuquerque, New Mexico to falling in love all over again in Lucky Harbor, Washington. Only in books can you make such big leaps.

I know many of you said you enjoyed Ann Patchett's State of Wonder. Carrie of the Books and Movies' "I've Always Meant to Read That Book!" Challenge will be discussing the book at the end of the month, and I hope to post my review later this week. Be sure and join in the discussion on her blog if you are interested!

After reading Duke City Split by Max Austin (my review will post next week), I fit in a Jill Shalvis novel, Once in a Lifetime--I was having a bad day, and it was just what I needed to get me through. Now I am turning my sights to Mind of Winter by Laura Kasischke.What are you reading at the moment? Is it something you would recommend?

Saturday, March 22, 2014

I love birthdays, and Mouse is at an age where she loves them too. She began planning her March birthday back in December, making it clear she wanted a pirate theme. The princess cake idea came a month before her birthday, all the while with her insisting we continue with the pirate theme for everything else. Thank goodness too because my mom and I had already collected all the party favors and decorations. I did ask her if she wanted a pirate princess cake a few times, but she was adamant she just wanted a princess cake.

My husband and I had talked about taking Mouse to Disneyland for her 3rd birthday, a trip with just the three of us, when she turned two. And so, it was with great anticipation we arrived at Disneyland, where who should we meet upon entering the gate? Why, Mouse's favorite princess! Cinderella!

We stopped at City Hall to pick up birthday and celebration buttons. Disneyland staff who see the buttons stopped to wish Mouse a happy birthday. At first I think she was a little confused, but she soon got into the spirit of it. We had a wonderful time at the park. Mouse had as much fun on the rides as she did meeting the various characters. Her favorite, I think, was Minnie Mouse. Mouse said her favorite ride of the day was the Dumbo ride. She loved being up so high.

The next day was Mouse's school party. My mom, who was in from out of town, and I arrived early at the school so we could help set up the decorations and games. Each child had a pirate hat and eye patches, and we drew mustaches and beards on them if they requested. The children had a blast searching for treasure in the play area and pinning the patch on the pirate. My husband arrived with the pizza and cupcake cakes. It was a fun afternoon. We are very fortunate that Mouse's daycare provider allowed us to have the party during the school day so that all Mouse's friends could come.

We had a quieter party with just family the following day. It was much more laid back. Several family members were able to come in from out of town, which made the event even more special for Mouse.

This past Sunday, Mouse, her dad and I ventured to the mall where she used a gift card to make a "Happy Birthday Bear" and she got her free cupcake from Barnes and Noble. So, I guess you could say her birthday lasted nearly a week and a half.

Now Mouse wants to know whose birthday comes next. My husband is probably hoping she'll forget I told her it was Parker's birthday this coming month . . . When I asked Mouse if Parker would like to go to Disneyland, she informed me that he can't go, he's an inside only cat. Smart girl.

On a more sentimental note, it is hard to believe Mouse is now three years old. It seems like just yesterday we were in the hospital waiting for her to be born. She definitely has a mind of her own, and most of the time I love her independent spirit. And yet she is actually quite sweet. She enjoys telling stories and making up songs. She is now in that "why" phase you hear so much about. She is always eager to learn and wants to try things on her own. She still loves to cuddle up with us though and sometimes wants to be carried and coddled. I love how girlish she can be and then the next minute be more of a tomboy. She is honest and at times dramatic. She can be so silly one minute and completely serious the next. When she falls, she lets you know she's okay right away, before you ask. Your average toddler, no doubt, but she's mine, which makes her extra special to me.

The day Mouse officially turned three, I swear to you, her cry and yell was louder. Her "No!" more firm. The terrible twos passed us by without really being terrible at all, and I am hoping the thunderous threes do the same. Still, I already sense a growing independence and rebelliousness in her. I look forward to it just as much as I fear it. I am excited about seeing her continued growth. I treasure this time of innocence, and yet I also look forward to introducing her more to this world we live in. My little girl wants so much to be a big girl, and all I want is for time to slow down. My little girl is three, can you believe it? Oh my gosh, I feel so old!

Thursday, March 20, 2014

I went on a brief Michael Robotham reading spree last month, and was quite taken with his books. I had not realized the books were part of a series, featuring two of the same characters. One of the things I particularly liked about the three books I read by Robotham was how different each was from one another, including being written from different perspectives. Each can be read as a stand alone. I was especially drawn to these books because they are set in London, England, one of my favorite crime fiction settings.

You can learn more about Michael Robotham and his books on the author's website.

Some days are diamonds. ~ Opening of Bombproof

Bombproof by Michael Robotham

Sphere, 2008 (reprinted by Mulholland, 2013)

Crime Fiction; 392 pgs

Bombproof was my first Michael Robotham novel, and it was quite an intense ride. Sam MacBeth has recently been released from serving time in prison for a crime he did not commit. Only, the bad guys don't know that. They think he's something he's not. As a result, he gets mixed up in a plot that can only lead to more trouble. On the run from the police who think he is a terrorist after the train he was on blew up, Sami must find a way to clear his name. Unbeknownst to him, he has a little help on his side. Retired police detective Vincent Ruiz is also on the case.

Bombproof is on the violent side. The author pulls no punches. It is dark and at times quite crazy. Yet, there is also a bit of humor mixed in, which takes some of the edge off. Sami is one of those guys you can't help but feel sorry for and want him to come out on top.

Rating of Book: (Good +)

Source: I received an e-copy of these book for review from the publisher via NetGalley.

My name is Piper Hadley and I went missing on the last Saturday of the summer holidays three years ago. ~ opening sentence of Say You're Sorry

Say You're Sorry by Michael Robotham

Mulholland, 2012

Crime Fiction; 435 pgs

Say You're Sorry is the harrowing story about two missing girls, one of whom turns up dead after three years. A couple is also found murdered in their own home. Police have a suspect in custody, but clinical psychologist Joe O'Loughlin, who has been asked to question the boy, is pretty sure the young man is innocent. Joined by ex-police detective Vincent Ruiz, Joe sets out to find out who the real killer is and to try and find the other missing girl before it is too late.

In this particular novel, the reader gets a more intimate glimpse into Joe's life and why his marriage fell apart. The mystery into the girls' disappearance is quite disturbing, particularly in how they were being forced to live. It brings to mind Ariel Castro in Ohio and the girls he help prisoner for all those years.

Say You're Sorry was just as good as the other two novels and kept me guessing until the end. There were quite a few times throughout the novel in which I had to hold my breath.

Rating of Book: (Good +)

Source: I received an e-copy of these book for review from the publisher via NetGalley.

I fell in love and followed her, that's all you need to know. ~ opening of Watching You

Watching You by Michael Robotham

Sphere, 2013 (reprinted by Mulholland, 2014)

Crime Fiction; 432 pgs

I probably should have read Watching You after I read Say You're Sorry, but I did not pay close enough attention to publication dates. While both books stand alone, an event in Say You're Sorry, is mentioned in Watching You--so you might want to read them the other way around if back story is important to you.

In Watching You, Marnie Logan finds herself at the center of a lot of death. All evidence points to her when her bodyguard ends up dead. Her husband has been missing for more than a year and, the deeper the authorities dig, the more skeletons they dig up from Marnie's past. Only, Marnie swears she is innocent. Her psychologist, Joe O'Loughlin, is sure she is innocent and begins his own search into her past. He enlists the help of his friend, retired police detective Vincent Ruiz.

I was thrilled to see Vincent Ruiz again because I liked his character in Bombproof quite a bit. He isn't afraid to kick in doors and throw a few punches to get the answers he wants, but he also has a soft side to him. He is ever the skeptic and and is loyal to the truth. Joe O'Loughlin didn't make it into Bombproof although his name is mentioned. He is very good at solving crimes, even though he's sworn that part of his life off. Vincent and Joe reminded me a little of Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis, whose books I once read like there was no tomorrow.

Watching You was another intense read, full of twists, both the expected and unexpected. Michael Robotham does a good job in this book of making the reader suspect just about everyone under the sun as being the culprit behind the murders, including the Marnie herself. I love it when a book can keep me guessing until the end.

Rating of Book: (Good +)

Source: I received an e-copy of these book for review from the publisher via NetGalley.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

I finally found the time and words to sit down and catch up on my review writing yesterday. For a few of the books, it's been over a month since I read them, and so I cannot promise thorough reviews. Hopefully I was able to catch the spirit of the novels at least.

In the meantime, I am trying not to feel too excited about the upcoming movie Divergent coming out, but it isn't easy. I am looking forward to seeing it after all. I finished reading the trilogy last week.

My husband and I went to see the Veronica Mars movie over the weekend. We are big fans of the television show, having watched it when it first aired. The movie brought back a lot of memories, and it was good to catch up with so many favorite--and not so favorite--characters. For those not familiar with the story, Veronica Mars was a high school private investigator who now is on the verge of getting her law degree some 10 years later. In the movie, she returns home to help her ex-boyfriend out of a jam (he's accused of murdering his girlfriend).

A couple months ago I came across mention of Sherlock Holmes and Watson earrings being sold on an Etsy site. I couldn't help but track them down. As I browsed the Bookity shop, I noticed a set featuring two of Agatha Christie's popular detectives, Miss Marple and M. Hercule Poirot. I just had to have them! It took them a while to arrive on my doorstep, arriving just last week, given they came all the way from England. Still, it was worth it. The earrings are homemade, which, to me, makes them extra special.

What are you reading at the moment? Is it something you would recommend?

At the moment, I am traveling down the Amazon. in search of answers about Eckman's death and the progress of a much anticipated medication in State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. The first paragraph of the novel reads:

The news of Anders Eckman's death came by way of Aerogram, a piece of bright blue airmail paper that served as both the stationery and, when folded over and sealed along the edges, the envelope. Who even knew they still made such things? This single sheet had traveled from Brazil to Minnesota to mark the passing of a man, a breath of tissue so insubstantial that only the stamp seemed to anchor it to the world. Mr. Fox had the letter in his hand when he came to the lab to tell Marina the news. When she saw him there at the door she smiled at him and in the light of that smile he faltered.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

I used to think our town, buried in the South Carolina backwoods, stuck in the muddy bottom of the Santee River valley, was the middle of nowhere. ~ First Sentence of Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Little, Brown & Company, 2009

Fantasy (YA, Romance); 563 pgs

From the Publisher:

There were no surprises in Gatlin County.

We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.

At least, that's what I thought.

Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.

There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.
Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

I enjoy stories about witches. When I first saw the preview for the movie, Beautiful Creatures, it immediately caught my attention, and I just knew I had to read the book. Then the reviews of the movie came in, and they weren't so positive. Friends who had read the book hadn't been too impressed. So, the book and the idea of watching the movie went on the back burner. When I saw the opportunity to watch the movie come on cable, I decided to take the plunge and dove into the book.

I enjoyed the story on some level, but there were also parts I had trouble with. The novel is narrated by Ethan, lifetime resident if Gatlin, a small Southern town. He is on the basketball team and is one of the popular kids at his school. Ethan's mother died a few years before and his father has taken to locking himself in his study, shutting out the rest of the world. Ethan is being raised my Amma, his family's long-time housekeeper and cook.

Life in Gatlin is pretty dull and Ethan longs to move away. Nothing ever changes. At least not until the niece of Gatlin's Boo Radley, Macon, comes to town. Lena is beautiful and different. She is immediately hated by every cheerleader in town. As a result, she is pesona non grata.

Ethan and Lena are instantly drawn to each other, even though Lena tries to fight it. In fact, the two share dreams even before they meet, suggesting a deeper connection between them than you might first believe. Ethan soon realizes that Lena is unusual in more ways than one. She is a Caster, a witch if you will. Ethan and Lena's fates are tied together. There is an old curse, a shared history dating back to the Civil War, and dark versus light.

I wanted to like this book more and maybe that was part of the problem. I expected too much. But the truth is Ethan annoyed me. There's no nicer way to say it. He does or says several things throughout the book that left me scratching my head. Lena wasn't much better. I tried to remind myself that they were teenagers, so what did I expect? But I am not sure that was really it. There was also the fact that the entire cheerleader shuns the new girl routine came across as too cliche. I also felt some of the story threads did not come together as nicely as I would have liked.

That aside, there were aspects of the book I liked. I liked the world building in terms of the myth and magic behind the Casters. I liked Macon and Amma and wished I could have known more about their backgrounds. I also am very curious about Ethan's mother, who I imagine readers may learn more about in future books in the series. And I liked the historical piece, the story of Ethan and Lena's ancestors. So, while the book left me wanting, I did enjoy parts of it.

And then I saw the movie. I was warned by more than one person not to watch it, but watch it I did. I am not even sure what to say other than I did not like it. I nearly turned it off a couple of times, I was so bored. The characters did not grab me, the special effects were not anything special--and at times seemed a bit ridiculous--and the changes made in the screenplay seemed to hurt more than help or balance out the book version. I will say though that I liked the movie ending better than I did the book ending.

I have not decided yet if I will read further in the series. I am regretting buying the rest of the series before having read the first book. It is a lesson I should have learned long ago.

Rating: (Fair +)

To learn more about Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl and their books, please visit the authors' website.

Resource: I purchased an e-copy of this book for my own reading pleasure. I watched the movie on HBO.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

The week before last I began reading Divergent by Veronica Roth. I finished it in two days. I might have managed it in one had I been able to sit straight through and read. I quickly moved onto the next book in the trilogy, Insurgent, and am now about half way through Allegiant. Last week was crazy around my house, and so I hardly got any reading done. I can see why this trilogy is so popular! Did Tris get on anyone else's nerves like she did on mine, especially during the second book? I am looking forward to seeing the movie of the first book when it comes out.

Next up, I hope to start on State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. Have any of you read it? What did you think?

For those of you interested in hearing about last week's whirlwind birthday, I hope to post something about it later in the week. It was a very busy week and it will probably take me a week to recover. In the meantime, here's a little taste from the festivities:

What are you reading at the moment? Is it something you would recommend?

I raced through Veronica Roth's Divergent last week and thought I would share the opening with you today. Admittedly, the opening is not one that jumps out and grabs you nor is it particularly pretty in terms of writing style. Still, it is a book that got my attention very quickly, and I raced through it, picking up the second in the trilogy immediately upon finishing the first. For those who do not know, Divergent is the first book in a Young Adult/Science Fiction/Dystopian type novel.

There is one mirror in my house. It is behind a sliding panel in the hallway upstairs. Our faction allows me to stand in front of it on the second day of every third month, the day my mother cuts my hair.

Contributors

At the age of five, Literary Feline (aka Wendy) was diagnosed as a fabulavore. Due to the low story content of movies and television, she has required a steady supply of books to provide her sustenance. She currently resides in California with her loving husband, adorable daughter, and one affectionate and sassy cat. Literary Feline has broadened her nutritional sources by reviewing books. Please note: Literary Feline is not a bibliovore. She's not eating the books for goodness' sake.